Welcome.
These are some of the attempts at verse that I have made over the years. I trust that they are to the glory of the Lord Jesus - and that putting them here is to His glory too.
I have now posted most that I have written at least once but continue in case a new audience finds new blessing. Occasionally I throw in some other verse.
Comment are welcome.

Sunday, 23 August 2015

Malcolm Guite has written roundels for the seven days of creation; this is the first of my little responses. His First Day is here.Earth lay in death and strife And darkness then One came in whom was life The Light of men.

Thursday, 20 August 2015

If the lamb's blood around the doorWas answer to immediate needGod strengthened for what lay before:They had the lamb on which to feed.Christ has not only set me freeBut been the food to nourish me.God overwhelmed the Egyptians firstSo that the victory was completeThen satisfied His people's thirstBy water wood He showed made sweet.Because Christ died to make me free"Christ" sweetens what refreshes me.Since the brass serpent held their gazeThough serpent-bitten they could liveAnd reach soon, in Jehovah's ways,The well He promised He would give.Sin in the flesh has been condemned;The Spirit's grace has been unstemmed.The Jordan's flooding waters foundA force that they could not withstand,And once they crossed it on dry groundThey ate the old corn of the land.Christ and His cross have made me whole,And Christ in glory feeds my soul.

Sunday, 9 August 2015

Help me, Spirit of Jesus,
To know the heavenly path;
Touch me, move me, and lead me
Up to that glorious Man.
Open my heart to hear Him
And be the strength of my hand
Guiding, tending and teaching.

Guide me, O Spirit of Truth
Into the truth each day:
"He shall announce it to you",
Jesus has promised His saints.
One whom the world must exclude
Thou, in Christ's saints, dost remain
Making the things of Christ new.

O Spirit of the Father,
May we, through Thee, be strengthened
To have God's scheme in vastness
Before our apprehension;
To know Christ's love which passes
In its transcendent blessing
All human understanding.

Give us more fully to know
"One body and one Spirit";
Under Thy power keep us close,
One Spirit, we drink into!
Now Thou hast found Thine abode,
And gift which Thou hast given
Renders the body full-grown.

We praise Thee, Spirit of God,
Recognising Thy service;
We praise for what Thou has sought:
All that God has found precious;

Saturday, 8 August 2015

When did the Spirit descend?
When Christ was throned in glory.
Proof of that place He was sent
To men who approved that enthronement.
Christ would not leave them bereft
But sent as bond and clothing
Power from on high for their help.

Who had ordained that descent?
Being the Spirit of God
He came by right, of Himself;
Yet as out-poured by the Lord
He has His place here as sent,
While at the Father's accord
Given at Jesus' request.

Where has He found His abode?
He has no home on the earth
Nor within structures or stones.
He dwells in hearts of the men
Christ has secured as His own:
In these the Spirit can rest
Letting affections find scope.

What means has the Spirit used?
Patience and weakness and toil.
He uses the lamp of truth
Seeking recalcitrant coin
Till profit to God accrues.
All that in men God enjoys
In meekness the Spirit produced.

Which persons provided His place?
Those who the Spirit selects
By right of sovereignty;
Those who have made their request
As moved by the Spirit to pray;
Those in whome grace has effect,
Whom God knows, those who obey.

How do they know His presence?
Christ is enthroned in the heart;
Life is enjoyed in blessing,
Linked with the glorified Man;
Springs of God's love are welling,
Deep in the innermost part;
Power come to judge the fleshly.

And why has the Spirit come?
To bring the heavenly Man
A bride to enjoy His love
And fill the need of His heart;
To find, for the Father, sons
Whom God eternally planned
Would share the Beloved's worth.

Thursday, 6 August 2015

The substance of anointing,
Embruing the oblation,
Was ground of God's rejoicing
And of the priest's sustaining.
By produce of the olive,
Expressed in perfect patience,
Both God and men are honoured.

If Christ gives living water
It wells within our being
Expelling want or shortage
And springing in you freely:
And water will flow from one
Who is a tRue believer
And owns the Saviour's lordship.

Content to be a servant
He rode across the desert
To find his master's blessing,
The kindly rise Rebecca:
In type a glorious vessel
Comes, fittingly invested
For One who dwells in heaven.

On her journey from Haran
As the servant led her back
Power was needed to carry
Into Isaac's promised land;
Power was found in the camels
That endured, on Rebecca's path:
Camels supplied by the master.

Dry are the bones of the dead:
Flesh grows sinews and skin -
Stiff still they languish in death;
"Prophesy unto the wind".
"Come from the four winds, O breath."
Column by column, they live -
Born to their own land again.

First the woman lit the lamp;
Carefully she swept the house,
Patiently explored each crack
Till the missing coin was found:
Then, with thankfulness of heart
She invited neighbours round
That with her they might be glad.

Once, responding to Christ's worth,
The Spirit has descended
In the fashion of of a dove.
Repelled by what is fleshly
But impelled by such a One
He found, as come from heaven,
Peace where nothing can disturb.